Playa Arnao Pm1

Spain Transitional 1 - Excellent

Playa Arnao is a 450-metre natural sandy beach with golden sand located in the municipality of Castropol, Asturias, in northwestern Spain. The beach is situated within a transition water body in the Eo estuary, part of the Western Cantabrian hydrographic district. It has been awarded the Blue Flag distinction multiple times and maintains excellent water quality. The beach experiences a macrotidal regime with water renewal in less than seven days.

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Water

Transition water body in the Eo estuary. Length 450 metres, width 30 metres (highly variable). Macrotidal range exceeding 4 metres. Golden sand composition. Mean wind speed 5.24 m/s. Current direction west-northwest. Water renewal time less than 7 days. Wave conditions vary from calm to windy.

Location

Located in Figueras, Castropol municipality, Asturias, Spain. Accessible by good pedestrian access and by road with parking for 50–100 vehicles. Services including lifeguards, local police, toilets, and showers are available.

Facilities

Lifeguards, local police, toilets, showers, good pedestrian access, parking for 50–100 vehicles.

Water Quality

Water quality classified as Excellent over the last five years. Microbiological sampling at monitoring point PM1 shows excellent sanitary quality. Blue Flag designation awarded in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015. Overall contamination risk assessed as low.

Risks

Primary contamination sources include occasional debris from Ribadeo and Figueras ports located 1.5 kilometres and 1.3 kilometres away respectively, and a submarine sewage outfall 1.2 kilometres distant. Historical algal blooms recorded in the Eo estuary with biennial frequency (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2018) lasting up to three weeks. Risk of microalgae and cyanobacteria blooms assessed as low. Portuguese man o'war incident recorded in June 2008; overall jellyfish proliferation risk assessed as null. Risk of short-duration contamination episodes from ports assessed as low to null.